Passengers gather in Sendai after train services were suspended following the earthquake (Picture: Reuters)

A tsunami warning issued in Japan after a strong earthquake hit the country this morning has been lifted.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, hit the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture in the north east of the country at 5.18pm local time (8.18am GMT).

The epicentre was 10km (6.2 miles) beneath the sea bed.

Buildings shook as far away as Tokyo, where they swayed for several minutes after the earthquake, however there are no immediate reports of death or serious damage.

Firefighters on alert after the earthquake hit (Picture: Reuters/Kyodo)

The US Geological Survey also recorded the magnitude at 7.3, revised down from an earlier estimate of 7.4.

That earthquake led to fuel-rod meltdowns at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant, causing radiation leakage, contamination of food and water and mass evacuations.

Some iPhone users were told the quake was coming (Picture: Michael Peachey)

Much of that area is still empty after residents evacuated.

Tokyo Electric Power Co, the operator of the Fukushima plant, has reported no irregularities at its nuclear plants after the latest earthquake but ordered workers to evacuate after the tsunami warning.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that a ‘destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected’.